The marijuana-oil cartridges, called Era Pods, are sold separately through third-party providers (Pax Labs never touches the pot plant) at dispensaries in California and Colorado.

Each pod holds up to 0.5 grams of highly concentrated marijuana oil. While that might not sound like much, the oil provides between 300 and 500 puffs depending on device settings.

Melia Robinson

7/

The cartridge, which sells for about $40 depending on the retailer, clicks into place. This is impressive for two reasons: First, most cartridges have to be nimbly screwed in.

Melia Robinson

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Second, the cartridge takes the hassle out of filling your vape pen with messy marijuana oil, as other devices require. Users can pick from sativa, indica, and hybrid strains.

Pax Labs

While the Pax Era gets points from me for being no-fuss, some marijuana users would find this to be a disadvantage. Other vape pens allow you to pick out your preferred oil — which vary in strain, potency, and effect — from a local dispensary and fill the cartridge yourself.

Taking a hit is as easy as placing your lips on the mouthpiece and inhaling. The LED lights glow when the device is in use. There are no buttons.

Pax Labs

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A couple shakes of the Pax Era cause the LED lights to display the device's current battery level. Each petal in the logo indicates 25% increments of charge.

Melia Robinson

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It pairs over Bluetooth to a smartphone app, Pax Vapor, which allows you to customize the LED light colors, change their brightness, and ramp up the temperature for bigger hits.

Pax Labs

This feature is cool, but unnecessary. I could see myself dimming the lights when using my device in public, but otherwise, what's the point of personalizing the LED colors?

Plus, the Pax 2 vaporizer could change temperature by pushing a button on the device. In the case of the Pax Era, I think it's Bluetooth-compatible for the sake of being high-tech.

12/

Portability was a huge pro for me. At an outdoor concert in Berkeley, California, I took puffs in between sets while my friends waited in line to buy alcohol.

Pax Labs

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The oil doesn't produce the same skunky smell as a joint. Clouds of vapor dissipated quickly, so I felt comfortable using it in public (this is true of many vapes).

Pax Labs

14/

Puff after puff, the Pax Era delivered smooth, dense hits. Its performance marks a huge improvement over the Pax 2, a flower-only device that gives less consistency.

Melia Robinson

15/

The LED lights glowed brightly at the start of my hit and dimmed as I inhaled. The visual cue helped me keep track of the length and strength of my hits.

Pax Labs

16/

Most users don't need a smart, connected vape pen. They want something that works every time. Fortunately, the Pax Era delivers in both categories.

Pax Labs

Correction: In a previous version of this article, the author reviewed a pre-production unit. The prototype was inconsistent and buggy. We've updated the article to reflect the experience of using the finished Pax Era product.